Multiple pumping units and drive therefor



April 6, 1954 Original F. J. YOUNG MULTIPLE PUMPING UNITS AND DRIVETHEREFOR Filed Oct. 28, 1946 yHIFI Il I Hill if; m i l l L A 2Sheets-Sheet l Page657 d. y0u/v6,

1N VEN TOR.

BY wm April 6, 1954 F, J, YOUNG 2,674,188

MULTIPLE PUMPNG UNITS AND DRIVE THEREFOR K Original Filed Oct. 28, 19462 Sheecs--Sheefl 2 l-Allll,

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1N VEN TOR.

I BY iwf/ Patented Apr. 6, 1,954

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MULTIPLE PUMPING UNITS AND DRIVE THEREFORForrest J. Young, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to The National SupplyCompany, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania 22 Claims. 1

This is a division of my copending application for Rotary Drilling Rig,Serial No. 706,140, illed October 28, 1946, now Patent No. 2,576,872,issued November 27, 1951.

This invention relates generally to apparatus of the type used in thedrilling of oil, gas, water or other wells by means of a multiple enginepower plant.

An important object of this divisional application is to provide arotary drilling rig having a pair of positive displacement reciprocatingpumps for circulating mud fluid, each of the pumps being independentlydriven from separate engine units, together with a third engine unitconnected through a power dividing device to assist in driving bothpumps simultaneously.

Another object is to provide such an arrangement in which the powerdividing device takes the form of a differential drive unit or ahydraulic coupling of the kinetic type.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a plan view in diagrammatic form showing a type of drillingrig to which the present invention pertains.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan view illustrating a hydraulic coupling ofthe kinetic type employed in connection with my invention.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrating a modified form ofmy invention and employing a differential drive unit.

Referring to the drawings, the rotary drilling rig embodying myinvention includes a rotary machine I0, a hoisting unit or drawworks I Ihaving a spooling drum I2, a power plant including a plurality of engineunits I3, I4, I5 and I6, and a plurality of reciprocating pumps I1, I8and I9 of the positive displacement type for circulating mud fluid inthe drilling operation. Suitable transmission connections are providedfor selectively driving the drawworks, rotary machine or pumps asdesired. Suitable change speed transmission units 26, 2l and 22 areprovided so that the speed of drive to the various driven units isiiexible and may be changed when desired. Each of the engine units I3,I4, I5 and VI6 may be direct connected to their output shafts, or asshown in the drawings, may drive such shafts through suitable hydrauliccouplings 23.

In accordance with my invention, the shaft 24 driven by the engine unitI 5 is carried on spaced bearings 25. Fixed to the shaft 24 is a centralimpeller unit 26. A split housing 21 is secured `to this impeller unitand adapted to rotate therewith. Hydro-kinetic drive means of theFottinger type is provided between the impeller unit 26 and theextension sleeves 28 and 29, which are rotatably mounted on the shaft24. This drive means includes runners 30 and 3| which are secured to theextension sleeves 28 and 29 respectively. Hydraulic uid within thehousing 21 is caused to circulate in the toroidal channels formedbetween the double impeller 26 and the runners 30 and 3l with the resultthat the latter are caused to rotate when the unit 26 revolves.

In effectl this device comprises a pair of hydraulic couplingsinterposed between the shaft 24 and the sprockets 32 and 33 which arefixed on the extension sleeves 28 and 29 respectively. When the engineunit I5 rotates the shaft 24 and the double impeller 26, the power ofthe engine is divided between chains 34 and 35, but the sprockets 32 and33 may rotate at slightly different speeds and also may compensate forcyclic variations in the speed of the pumps. Clutches 36 and 31 areprovided for engaging the extension sleeves 26 and 29 in direct drivingrelation with the housing 21 so that when the clutches are engaged thehydraulic drive is locked out and the device functions as a singleintegral unit.

In certain drilling operations where it is desired to pump mud iiuidunder very high pressure, the pumps I1 and I9 are connected for seriesoperation so that the fluid delivered from one pump is passed. into theinlet of another pump. Such conditions of operation are known in the artas compounding pumps, and this arrangement is shown clearly in theArcher Patent No. 2,282,597, granted May 12, 1942, Owing to cyclicvariations in pump speeds, it is difficult to drive reciprocating pumpswhich are hydraulically connected in series, and therefore, considerabledifficulty might be encountered in attempting to use the power of athird engine to supplement two other engines each individually driving apump. The hydraulic coupling device shown in Figure 2 enables this powercompounding operation to be more readily accomplished. The engine unitI4 may be used for driving the pump I9, while the engine unit I6 isconnected to drive the pump I1. At the same time the engine unit I5 maybe used to supplement the power of the engine units I4 and I6 and todivide its power between them. l

The engine unit I4 drives the pump I9 by way of output shaft l43,sprockets 44 and 45, change speed transmission 2|, friction clutch 46,countershaft 41 and chain 40, The engine unit I 6 drives either or bothpumps l1 and I B through change speed transmission 22, friction clutches48 and 49 and chains 4I and 42 respectively. The power of the engineunit I5 is divided and acts through chains 34 and 35 to supplement thepower of the engine units I6 and I4 respectively. The modification shownin Figure 3 includes an assembly which is adapted to be substituted forthev shaft 24 and sprockets 32 and 33 as shown in Figure 2. The shaft24a is arranged to be driven by the engine unit I5, and fixed to thisshaft is a spider 53. A plurality of radially extending trunnions 54 onthe spider each rotatably support a pinion gear 55. The pinion gears 55mesh with driven gears 56 which are rotatably supported on the shaft24a, and the arrangement of parts is such that a differential drivemechanism is provided between the shaft 24a and the driven gears 56.Drive sprockets 32a and 33a are fixed on the sleeve extensions 5l and58, which in turn may be integrally formed with the gears 56respectively.

Axially shiftable clutches 59 and 6l) are provided for selectivelyengaging the sleeveextensions 5l' and 58 respectively in drivingengagement with the split housing 6I. When the clutches 59 and 60 areengaged, the differential mechanism is locked out and the assemblyfunctions as an integra-1 unit. When the clutches 59 and 60 aredisengaged, power supplied to the shaft 24a by the engine unit I5` isdivided by the differential mechanism generally designated 62 so that aportion thereof drives the chain 34 and another portion drives the chain35 in accordance with the relative resistance offered by each of thesedrive chains. Therefore, when the engine unit I4 is driving the pump I9through the drive chain 40, and while engine unit I6 is operating one orboth of the chain drives 4I and 42, the engine unit I5 may be used tosupplement the power of the other engine units by dividing its poweroutput through the diierential mechanism 62.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I donot wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my inventionis of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, a pair of positive displacement pumps adapted to beconnected in series flow relation, a driving shaft adapted to beconnected to a source of power, a pair of driven shafts, meansconnecting said driven shafts respectively to said pumps, and adifferential gear set connecting said three shafts.

2. Apparatus of the class described, comprising in combination a pair ofreciprocating pumps of the positive displacement .type each individuallydriven from a separate engine unit, a power dividing mechanism driven bya third engine unit and adapted to supplement the power of the otherengine units, said mechanism including a pair of relatively rotatableelements each operatively connected to drive one of said pumps, saidmechanism also including a third element driven from the third engineunit, and means whereby rotation of the third element serves to drivethe rst and second elements at variable relative speeds for compensatingfor cyclic variations in speed of operation of the pumps.

3. Apparatus of the class described, comprising in combination a pair ofdriven devices, a pair of engine units, transmission connections wherebyeach engine unit may individually drive one of said devices, adifferential drive mechanism having three elements, the rst'elementthereof being operatively connected to drive one of said devices and thesecond element thereof being operatively connected to drive the otherdevice, and a third engine unit adapted to drive the third element ofthe differential mechanism whereby the power of the third engine unitmay be divided to supplement that of the other engine units.

4. Apparatus of the class described, comprising in combination a pair ofdriven devices, a pair of engine units, transmission connections wherebyeach engine unit may individually drive one of said devices, adifferential drive mechansm having three elements, the first elementthereof being operatively connected to drive one of said devices and thesecond element thereof being operatively connected to drive the otherdevice, a third engine unit adapted to drive the third element of thedifferential mechanism whereby the power of the third engine unit may bedivided to supplement that of the other engine units, and selectivemeans to connect the first and second elements of the differentialmechanism in direct driving relation.

5. Apparatus of the class described, comprising in combination a firstdevice driven by a first engine unit and a second device independentlydriven by a second engine unit, a power dividing mechanism having twodriven elements and a driving element interposed therebetween,transmission connections operatively connecting one of the drivenelements to one of said devices and the other driven element to theother device, means whereby the driving element may simultaneously driveboth of the driven elements regardless of variations in operating speedof the driven elements, and a third engine unit adapted to operate thedriving element.

6. Apparatus of the class described, comprising in combination a firstdevice driven by a rst engine unit and a second device independentlydriven by a second engine unit, a power dividing mechanism having twodriven elements and a driving element interposed therebetween,transmission connections operatively connecting one of the drivenelements to one of said devices and the other driven element to theother device, means whereby the driving element may simultaneously driveboth of the driven elements regardless of variations in operating speedof the driven elements, means to connect the driven elements in directdriving relation, and a third engine unit adapted to operate the drivingelement.

'7. Apparatus of the class described, comprising in combination a rstdevice driven by a first engine unit and a second device independentlydriven by a second engine unit, a dual fluid coupling of the kinetictype having two independently rotatable runners driven from a commonimpeller member, transmission connections between one of the runners andone of said devices and between the other runner and the other device,anda third engine unit adapted to drive said impeller member.

8. Apparatus of the class described, comprising in combination a nrstdevice driven by a first engine unit and a second device independentlydriven by a second engine unit, a dual fluid coupling of the kinetictype having two independently rotatable runners driven from a commonimpeller member, transmission connections between one of the runners andone of said devices and between the other runner and the other device, athird engine unit adapted to drive said emerse impeller member, andselective 'means' to' connect the runners in direct driving relation.

9. Apparatus ofv the class described, comprising in combination: a pairof' driven devices, a pair of engine units, transmission connectionswhereby each engine unit may individually drive one of said devices, apower dividing mechanism driven by a third engine unit and adapted tosupplement the power of the other engine units, said mechanism includinga pair of relatively rotatable elements each operatively connected todrive one of said driven devices, said mechanism also including a thirdelement driven from the third engine unit, and means whereby rotation ofthe third element serves to drive the iirst and second elements atvariable relative speedsior compensating for cyclic variations in speedof operation of the driven devices.

10. In a drilling rig having a pair of reciprocating pumps and threeengine units, the improvement comprising in combination: powertransmission connections whereby a first engine unit may individuallydrive one of said pumps, additional power transmission connectionswhereby a second of said engine units may individually drive the otherof said pumps, a power dividing mechanism driven by the third engineunit and adapted to supplement the power of the other engine units, saidmechanism including a pair of relatively rotatable elements eachoperatively connected to drive one of said pumps, said mechanism alsoincluding a third element driven from the third engine unit, and meanswhereby rotation of the third element serves to drive the first andsecond elements at variable relative speeds for compensating for cyclicvariations in the speed of operation of the pumps.

11. In a drilling rig having a, pair oi driven devices and three engineunits, the improvement comprising in combination: power transmissionconnections whereby a first engine unit may individually drive one ofsaid driven devices, additional power transmission connections whereby asecond of said engine units may individually drive the other of saiddriven devices, a differential drive mechanism having three elements,the nrst element thereof being operatively connected to drive one of thedriven devices, the second element thereof being operatively connectedto drive the other driven device, and power transmission connectionsconnecting the third engine unit to drive the third element of thedifferential mechanism, whereby the power of the third engine unit maybe divided to supplement that of the other engine units.

12, In a drilling rig having a pair of driven devices and three engineunits, the improvement comprising in combination: power transmissionconnections whereby a iirst engine unit may individually drive one ofsaid driven devices, additional power transmission connections whereby asecond of said engine units may individually drive the other of saiddriven devices, a dual iiuid coupling of the kinetic type having twoindependently rotatable runners driven from a common impeller member,power transmission connections between one of the runners and one of thedriven devices and between the other runner and the other driven device,and additional transmission connections whereby the third engine unitmay drive said impeller member.

13. Apparatus of the class described, comprising in combination a rstdevice driven by Ia first engine unit and a second device independentlydriven by a second engine unit, a power dividing mechanism having twodriven'elem'ents and a driving element interposed therebetween,transmission connections operatively connecting one of the drivenelements to one of said devices and the other driven element to theother device, means whereby the driving element may simultaneously driveboth of the driven elements regardless of variations in operating speedof the driven elements, a third engine unit adapted to operate thedriving element, and releasable means for connecting the third engineunit in direct driving relationship with one of the other engine units.

14. Apparatus of the class described, comprising in combination a firstdevice driven by a first engine unit and a second device independentlydriven by a second engine unit, a power dividing mechanism having twodriven elements and a driving element interposed therebetween,transmission` connections operatively connecting one of the drivenelements to one of said devices and the other driven element to theother device, means whereby the driving element may simultaneously driveboth of the driven elements regardless of variations in operating speedof the driven elements, a third engine unit adapted to operate thedriving element, and relcasable means for connecting the third engineunit in direct driving relationship with either of the other engineunits, or both.

l5. Apparatus of the class described, comprising in combination a firstdevice driven by a first engine unit and a second device independentlydriven by a second engine unit, a dual fluid coupling of the kinetictype having two independently rotatable runners driven from a commonimpeller member, transmission connections between one of the runners andone of the said devices and between the other runner and the otherdevice, a third engine unit adapted to drive saidimpeller member, andreleasable means for connecting the third engine unit in direct drivingrelationship with one of the other engine units.

16. Apparatus of the class described, comprising in combination a rstdevice driven by a iirst .engine unit and a second device independentlydriven by a second engine unit, a dual iiuid coupling of the etic typehaving two independently rotatable runnersl driven from a commonimpeller member, transmission connections between one of the runners andone of the said devices and between the other runner and the otherdevice, a third engine unit adapted to drive said impeller member, andreleasable means for connecting the third engine unit in direct drivingrelationship with either of the other engine units, or both.

17. For use in a drilling rig having a pair of driven devices and threeengine units, the irnprovement comprising in combination powertransmission connections whereby a first engine unit may individuallydrive one of said driven devices, additional power transmissionconnections whereby a second engine unit may individually drive theother driven device, a power dividing mechanism including a rotary shaftand a pair of independently rotatable elements mounted coaxially of theshaft, the rst element being operably connected to drive one of thedriven devices and the second element being operatively connected todrive the other driven device, a third element iiXed relative to theshaft, means whereby a third engine unit may vdrive the shaft, and meanswhereby rotation of said third element serves to drive the first andsecond elements at 7 variablerelative speeds, whereby the power of thethird engine unit may be divided to supplement that of the otherengineunits.

18. For use in drilling rig having a pair of driven devices and threeengine units, the improvement comprising in combination: powertransmission connections whereby a rst engine unit may individuallydrive .one of said driven devices, additional power transmissionconnections whereby a second engine unit may individually drive theother driven device, a power dividing mechanism including a rotary shaftand a pair of independently rotatable elements mounted coaxially of theshaft, the rst element being operatively connected to drive one of thedriven devices and the second element being operatively connected todrive the other driven device, said mechanism including a dual uid cou=pling of the kinetic type having two independently rotatable runnersdriven from a common impeller member fixed relative to said shaft, meansoperatively connecting each of said runners to one of said elements,means whereby a third engine unit may drive the shaft whereby the powerof the third engine unit may be guided to supplement that of the otherengine units,

19. For use in a drilling rig having a pair of driven devices and threeengine units, the improvement comprising in combination powertransmission connections whereby a rst engine unit may individuallydrive one of said driven devices, additional power transmissionconnections whereby a second engine unit may individually drive theother driven device, a power dividing mechanism including a rotary shaftand a pair of independently rotatable elements mounted coaxially of theshaft, the rst element being operatively connected to drive one of thedriven devices and the second element being operatively connected todrive the other driven device, said mechanism including a differentialdrive device having a pair of driven gears each connected to one of saidelements, means whereby a third engine unit may drive the shaft, aspider fixed to the shaft, pinions on the spider meshing with said gearswhereby rotation of the shaft serves to drive the gears at variablerelative speeds, whereby the power of the third engine unit may bedivided to supplement that of the other engine units.

20. In combination with a pairl of-positive displacement pumps adaptedfor individual operation or series flow relation, a driving shaftadapted to be connected to a source of power, a pair of driven shaftsadapted to be connected respectively to said pumps, a dierential gearset connecting said three shafts, and selectively operable means forconnecting said driven shafts in a fixed driving relation to each other.

21. In combination with a pair of positive displacement pumps adaptedfor individual operation or series ow relation, a driving shaft adaptedfor connection to a source of power, a pair of driven shafts, means forconnecting the driven shafts respectively to the pumps, and adifferential gear set connecting said three shafts, said differentialand connecting means providing torque ratlos between the driving shaftand the pumps which will enable both pumps to develop approximately thesame pressure when they are connected in parallel or each pump developsapproximately the same pressure rise when they are connected in series.

22. In combination, a pair of positive displacement pumps connected inseries iow relation, a driving shaft, a pair of driven shafts connectedrespectively to said pumps for operating the same, a dierential gear setcomprising a pair of coaxial gear members connected by and meshing withplanet gears, and a cage member journaled coaxially with said gearmembers and supporting said planet gears, said three members beingconnected respectively to said three shafts so that the torque deliveredto the two pumps is maintained in balance.

References Cited in the -le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,026,709 Sheldon Jan. 7, 1936 2,243,156 Howe et al May 27,1941 2,282,597 Archer May 12, 1942 2,468,107 Powell Apr. 26, 19492,488,069 Spalding Nov. 15, 1949 2,541,625 Webster Feb. 13, 1951 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 118,488 Austria July 10, 1930 607,874 GreatBritain Sept. 7, 1948

